Liquid-treating apparatus.



K. W. BARTLETT. LIQUID TREATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1907.

Patented July 6, 1909. 2 sHBnTs-sHnnT 1.

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K. W. BARTLETT. LIQUID TREATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEP'I'.23,1907.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KENT W. BARTLETT, OF MADISON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO NORTHERN WATERSOFTENER COMPANY, OF MADISON, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

LIQUID-TREATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1909.

Application 'filed. September 23, 1907. Serial No. 394,232.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KENT W. BARTLETT, citizen of the United States,residing at Madison, in the county of Dane and State of Wisconsin, haveinvented. a certain new and useful Improvement in Liquid-TreatingApparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification.

lily invention relates to apparatus for governing the llow of materialor liquid, and finds a very useful embodiment .in water softeningapparatus and the invention will be specifically described. as embodiedin a water softening apparatus, though it is not to be limited thereto.

It is one object of my invention. to govern the supply of chemical tothe settling tank by the water witliiin the settling tank, ad ditionalchemical being supplied to the tank when additional water is added tothe tank. The same mechanism that works within the settling tank. forthe purpose of controlling the supply of chemical to said tank,desirably also controls the supply of additional water to the tank. Themechanism operating within this tank preferably intermit tently eli'ectscommunication between the settling tank and the fresh. water supply andbetween the settling tank and the chemical supply, the mechanism withinthe tank operating when the water within the tank has been drawn oil toa predetermined extent or purpose of use. There is desirably provided anadjusting means for governing the rate of llow either ol the incomingwater or ol' the incoming chemical, whereby the chemical and the watermay be suitably proportioned in quantity, there being preferably twoadjusting devices, one if or the water and the other for the chemical,though I do not wish to be limited to the use of the two adjustingdevices, as the noportions of chemical and water may be determined bythe use of but one adjusting device.

Another feature of my invention relates to the mechanism for sup plyingchemical to the settling tank, and another feature 01' my inventionrespects the mechanism by which fresh water is intermittently suppliedto the settling tank. By means of the latter two 'leatures of myinvention, valves are eliminated.

1 will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, showing the preferred embodiment thereof, in which Figure 1 isa view somewhat diagrammatic but suliiciently comprehensive to show thegeneral nature of the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of thestructure shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of the chemical supply mechanism, achemical reservoir and a circulating pump being indicated at the lowerpart of the figure. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a bucket entering into theconstruc tion of the mechanism associated with the settling tank forcontrolling the supply of fresh water and chemical to the settling tank.Fig. 5 shows a detail of a cam device entering into my preferredconstruction.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe difl'erent figures.

The settling tank, which is Well-known in the art, is indicated at 1.Above it, there is illustrated a constant level chamber 2 that firstreceiv s the water to be treated and from which the water isdiscl'iarged into the settling tank by the mechanism to be described.The constant level chamber receives water from the supply pipe 3connected to any suitable source of supply, there being a valve 4 ofwell-known construction included within this pipe and governed in itsaction by a float 5 connected therewith, the float sinking whenever thelevel of the water in the chamber 2 recedes from its predeterminedlocation to effect an operation of the valve l to permit the supply ofenough water to the chamber 2 to restore the level. An oscillatingdischarge pipe 6 has communication with the interior of the chamber 2,this pipe being mounted to oscillate upon a section of piping 7extending toward the chamber 2 and including a valve 8, whereby the rateof flow through the pipe 6 may be regulated. An adjustable riding weight9 is mounted upon an extension 10 secured to the piping 6, whereby saidpiping is nicely balanced.

A bucket 11 is swung from a bail 12, which bail has a stem 1.3 that haspin and slot connection with the extension 10. The weight of this bucket11 is such that when it is empty, the pipe 6 may of its own weight,fall, but when this bucket is full of water, sulficient weight will beadded to the extension 10 to cause the pi)e 6 to rise. The bucket 11 isfilled when the water within the tank 1 reaches or has about reached itsupper limiting level, whereupon the pipe 6 is raised to cut oil the flowof water from the chamber 2 to the settling tank. I provide restrainingmechanism that prevents the bucket from tipping due to the weight of thewater therein, until the water in the settling tank has reached apredetermined lower level. When this lower level has been reached, thebucket rotates upon its bail pivots, due to the weight of the water inthe bucket, permitting the water to empty into the chamber 141 tolighten the weight upon the extension 10, whereupon the pipe 6 swingsdownwardly to discharge Water from the chamber 2 to the settling tank 1.A pipe 15 permits the entry of water from the space about the chamber 14(this chamber 14 being preferably surrounded by the water in the tank 1)to the bucket 11, said bucket after having received sufficient waterthrough the pipe 15, causing the elevation of the pipe 6 by reason ofthe water in the bucket 11 to cut off the flow of fresh water from thechamber 2 to the settling tank. The chamber 14 is itself to be keptsufliciently clear of water at all times to permit the weight of thewater in the bucket 11 to be effective in causing the pipe 6 to rise andto be effective to cause a tilt of the bucket when the restrainingmechanism is relieved of influence upon the bucket when the water in thesettling tank has reached the neighborhood of the lower limiting level.For this purpose I desirably provide an eduction pipe 16 leading to anysuitable place, and inasmuch as the amount of water used in theoperation of the bucket 11 is very small as compared with the totalquantity of water in the settling tank, the eduction pipe 16 may lead toa sewer or waste pipe. After the bucket 11 has been relieved of theinfluence of the restraining mechanism thereupon, the water in thebucket causes the bucket to tilt, so as to empty the bucket, as hashitherto been set forth, whereafter the bucket, by reason of thedisposition of the metal composing the same, restores itself to itsvertical position, in which position the restraining mechanism mayresume its influence upon the bucket upon rise of the water in thesettling tank 1. I do not, however, wish to be limited to the form ofrestraining mechanism that enters into the control of the bucket, nor doI wish to be limited to the use of a bucket for accomplishing thepurpose herein set forth.

In the embodiment of the invention herein shown, the restrainingmechanism includes a float 17 of comparatively large size, provided witha vertically moving stem 18 suitably directed in its travel by guides19, a lever 20 pivoted between its ends at 21 and having an adjustablecounter-weight 22 upon one end and adapted for engagement with the noseprovided upon the upper end of a vertically traveling rod 24 which isdirected in its travel by means of guides 25 projecting from the bail 12of the bucket. T 1e body of the bucket carries a cam lug 26 adapted forengagement with a roller 27 provided upon the lower end of the rod 24,the vertical face of the lug 26 normally engaging the said roller tohold said bucket in vertical place. rod 24 works downwardly by the forceof gravity, said rod being limited. in its downward travel by the lug 28adapted for engagement with the upper one of the guides 25, whereby theroller 27 is insured engagement with the vertical face of the lug 26.The roller 27 when thus in engagement with the lug 26, holds the bucket11 in its vertical place, so that said bucket may become filled to anextent that will force the elevation of the pipe 6. The bucket ismaintained in vertical position until the float 17 has been permitted todescend a sufficient distance. consequent upon the removal of sufiicientwater from the settling tank for purposes of use, the stem 18 thendrawing the lever 20 downwardly and forcing engagement between the nose23 and said lever 20, thereby ei'iecting the elevation of the rod 24 andthe disengagement of the roller 27 from the cam 26, the water in thebucket 11 thereupon effecting the rotation of said bucket to permit thewater to be emptied therefrom,.

whereupon the weight furnished by the water in the bucket to force anelevation of the pipe 6 1S removed, permitting said pipe to descend topermit the flow of fresh water from the chamber 2 to the settling tank.

The same mechanism that eflects the ad mission of fresh water to thesettling tank spout 29, which is desirably swingingly mounted orrotatively mounted, as is the -water discharge pipe 6, this chemicaldischarge pipe havlng communication with a chemical receptacle 30. isconnection between the chain 28 or other power trans mission connectionand the bucket mechan ism 11 is desirably ez'l'ected by connecting thesaid chain with the pipe extension 10 The The discharge spouts 6 and 29are, by the apparatus illustrated, permitted to be elevated at the sametime and to be lowered at the same time, so that the flow of fresh waterand fresh chemical to the settling tank begins and ends substantiallysimultaneously. I do not wish to be limited to the use of swingingspouts for controlling the admission of chemical and water to thesettling tank.

It will be seen that the water and chemical are supplied onlyintermittently to the Settling tank, so that the water in said tank ispermitted to be quiet during the time that there is no flow of freshwater and. chemical to the tank. The spout is desirably provided with anadjustable weight 31 to adjust the force with which said spout may fall,while the extent to which said spout 29 may fall may be regulated by anadjustable eX- tension 32 which engages a stop 33 when the spout hasdescended the preregulated distance.

The source of immediate supply of chemical to the discliarge spout 29 isof novel construction, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 3, there beingthere illustrated a jacket 34 about the upper end of the chamber 30, asupply pipe 2:35 leading to the chamber 30, while an cduction pipe 36leads from the jacket chamber 34., which latter pipe removes thechemical which overflows from the chamber 30 into the surroundingchamber 34. A pump 37 forces the chemical from a suit able chemicalreservoir 38 through the pipe 35 to the chamber 80, from which chamberthe chemical is either totally discharged through the chamber 34 and thepipe 36 or is but partially discharged through said latter chamber andpipe when the chemical is being discharged through the spout 29. By thisarrangement a uniform quantity of liquid chemical is always present toinsure a uniform .iiow of the chemical through the spout 29. The liquidis passed upwardly through the pipe 35 and upwardly througlii thechamber 30, thereby to agitate the chemical in said chamber 30.

By reason of the constant level chamber 2 and the chemical supplychamber 30, the water and liquid chemical are supplied to the settlingchamber at uniform pressures, insuring the supply to the tank of correctproportions of water and chemical. The water either flows a fixedpressure and volume or not at all and the chemical is either flowing ata fixed pressure and volume or not at all.

I prefer the chemical in liquid form for supply to the settling tank. Byliquid chemical I do not necessarily mean a solution, as the chemicalmay be held in suspense within the water, the water with the suspendedchemical constituting aliquid chemical as I use the expression.

I have herein shown i'ny invention as embodied in water softeningapparatus, but I do not wish to be limited to this application of theinvention, as I desire to have the in vention protected irrespective ofthe use to which it is put.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters- Patent the following:

1. Apparatus of the class described including a liqiiicbreceiving tank,a source of chemical supply for said tank, mechanism for governingchemical flow to said tank and operated by the liquid within the tankwhen said liquid has reached a predetermined upper level to cut oil thechemical flow to the tank, and operable when the liquid in the tank hasreached a predetermined lower level, to renew the chemical ilow to thetank, and restraining mechanism governed by the liquid in the tank forpreventing the aforesaid mechanism i'rom operating during the time theliquid in the tank is descending from one level to the other level.

2. Apparatus of the class described including a liquid-receiving tank, asource of chemical supply for said tank, mechanism for governingchemical flow to said tank and operated by the liquid within the tankwhen said liquid has reached a predetermined upper level to cut oil thechemical flow to the tank, and operable when the liquid in the tank hasreached a predetermined lower level, to renew the chemical flow to thetank, and restraining mechanism governed by the liquid for preventingthe aforesaid mechanism from operating during the time the liquid in thetank is descending from one level to the other level.

3. Apparatus of the class described including a li p1id-receiving tank,a source of supply for said tank, means for efi ecting flow from saidsupply to said tank and for etlecting the discontinuation of said ilow,mechanism for ei'lecting the operation of said means, said mechanismincluding a bucket, which when sufficiently empty of liquid, will permitsaid means to operate to eiiect a [low to the tank, and when containingsuiiicient liquid, will operate upon said. means to ci'l'ect adiscontinuation of said. flow, and mechanism for governing the dischargeof liquid from said bucket and brought into operation. to bring aboutsuch discharge by the liquid in the tank when it has reached apredetermined lower level, whereupon flow into the tank may be resumed.

4. Apparatus of the class described ineluding a liquid-receiving tank, asource of chemical supply for said tank, mechanism for governingchemical flow to said tank and operable when the liquid has reachedalternative levels to renew or cut oil the flow to the tank, andrestraining mechanism governed by the liquid. for preventing theaforesaid mechanism l'rom operating during the time the liquid isshifting from one level to the other level.

5, Apparatus oi" the class described including a liqui .l-rcceivi11gtank, a source of liquid supply for said tank, mechanism for govern.-

ing flow to said tank and including a bucket adapted to receive liquidsupplied from said source and operable when the liquid has reachedalternative levels to renew or cut oil the flow to the tank, andrestraining mechanism governed by the liquid for preventing theaforesaid mechanism from operating during the time the liquid isshifting from one level to the other level.

6. Apparatus of the class described including a liquidu'eceiving tank, asource of supply for said tank, mechanism for governin flow to said tankand including a bucket adapted to receive liquid from the tank andoperated by the liquid within the tank when said 1e liquid has reached apredetermined upper level to cut oil the flow, and operable when theliquid in the tank has reached a predetermined lower level to renew theflow, and restraining mechanism govern ed by the liquid in the tank forpreventing the aforesaid mechanism from operating during the time theliquid in the tank is descending from one level to the other level.

7. .Apparatus of the class described including a liquid-receiving tank,a source of liquid supply for said tank furnishing liquid to the tank atconstant pressure, mechanism for governing ilow to said tank and.operated by the liquid within the tank when. said liquid.

has reached. a predetermined upper level to cut oli the ilow, andoperable when the liquid in the tank has reached a predetermined lowerlevel to renew the flow to the tank, and restraining mechanism governedby the 0 liquid in. the tank for preventing the aforesaid mechanism fromoperating duringthe time the liquid in the tank is descending from onelevel to the other level.

8. Apparatus oi the class described including a liquid-receivii'ig tank,a source of liquid supply for said tank furnishing liquid to the tank atconstant pressure, mechanism for governing flow to said tank andoperable when the liquid has reached alternative 0 levels to renew orcut oil the flow to the tank,

and restraining mechanism overned by the liquid for preventing thealoresaid mechanism from operating during the time the liquid isshifting from one level. to the other level.

5 9. Apparatus of the class described including a liquid-receiving tank,a source of liquid supply for said b21113 furnishing liquid to the tankat constant pressure, mechanism for governing flow to said ank andincluding a bucket adapted to receive liquid supplied from said source,and operable when the liquid has reached alternative levels to renew orcut oil the low to the tank, and restraining mechanism govern d by theliquid for 05 preventing the aforesaid mechanism from operating duringthe time the liquid is shifting from one level to the other level.

10. Apparatus of the class described including a liquid-receiving tank,a source of liquid supply for said tank furnishing liquid to the tank atconstant pressure, mechanism for governing flow to said tank and.including a bucket auapted to receive liquid. from. the tank andoperated by the liquid within the tank when said liquid has reached apredetermined upper level to cut off the flow, and operable when theliquid in the tank has reached a predetermined lower level to renew theflow to the tank, and restraining mechanism governed by the liquid inthe tank for preventing the aforesaid mechanism from operating durinfthe time the liquid. in the tank is descending from one level to theother level.

11. Apparatus of the class described ineluding a liquid-receiving tank,a source of supply for said tank, means for eilecting ilow to said tankand for effecting the discontinuation of said flow, mechanism foreffecting the operation of said means, said mechanism so including abucket, which when sufficiently empty of liquid will permit said meansto operate to effect flow to the tank, and when containing suilicientliquid will operate upon said means to effect a discontinuation of saidflow, mechanism for governing the discharge of liquid from said bucketand brought into operation to bring about such discharge by the liquidin the tank when it has reached a predetermined lower level, whereuponflow so into the tank will be established, and a chamber containing saidbucket, there being means for conveying the liquid from the tank throughthe chamber to said bucket when the liquid in the tank reachespredetermined level, whereby the said bucket is prevented from receivingliquid until the liquid reaches an upper level in the tank.

12. An apparatus of the class described including a liquid-receivingtank, a source of we supply therefor, an oscillating spout foreotablishing flow to the tank, mechanism for controlling the oscillationof the spout, and, in turn, governed by the liquid in the tank, andmechanism for preventing the operation of the aforesaid mechanism duringthe descent of the liquid in the tank between predetermined levels.

13. An apparatus of the class described in cludingaliquid-receivingtank, a source of supply therefor, a bucket adapted to receive liquidfrom said tank, and mechanism governed by said bucket for controllingthe flow from said source to said tank, said mechanism being operablewhen the liquid within the tank reaches alternative levels.

142. fin apparatus of the class described including a liquid-receivingtank, a source of supply therefor, an oscillating spout havingcommunication at one end with the source of supply and adapted todischarge into the tank at its other end, and mechanism for controllingthe oscillation of the spout to prevent or permit ilow through saidspout and, in turn, governed by the liquid.

15. An apparatus of the class described including a liquid-receivingtank, a source of supply, an oscillating pipe having communication withthe tank at one end and adapted to discharge into the tank at its otherend when said pipe is depressed at its discharge end, and automaticallyoperating mechanism for elevating the pipe to prevent how therethroughand for depressing the pipe to permit flow therethrough.

16. An apparatus of the class described including a liquid-receivingtank, a source of supply therefor, an oscillating spout havingcommunication at one end with the source of supply and adapted todischarge into the tank at its other end, and mechanism for controllingthe oscillation of the spout to prevent or permit flow therethrough fromsaid source of supply and in turn, governed by the liquid in the tank.

17. Apparatus of the class described in cluding a liquid-receiving tank,a source of supply therefor, and mechanism governed by the level of theliquid in the tank serving to establish flow to said tank when theliquid in the tank reaches a predetermined lower level and serving tocut off the flow to said tank when the liquid in the tank reaches apredetermined upper level, said mechanism in cluding a bucket havingfluid-conducting means for conveying liquid to the bucket from the tankand permitting the discharge of said liquid.

18. Apparatus of the class described including a liquid-receiving tank,a source of supply therefor in the form of a constant level chamber, andmechanism governed by the level of the liquid in the tank serving toestablish flow to said tank when the liquid in the tank reaches apredetermined lower level and serving to cut off the flow to said tankwhen the liquid in the tank reaches a predetermined upper level, saidmechanism including a bucket having fluid-conducting means for conveyingliquid to the bucket from the tank and permitting the discharge of saidliquid.

19. An apparatus of the class described including a liquid-containingchamber 30 having a discharge, as 29, below its upper level, a chamber34 into which the liquid in the chamber 30 may overflow and having itslower portion below the upper level of the chamber 30 and having adischarge 36, a pipe 35 leading into the chamber 30 near the bottomthereof for admitting liquid into said chamber 30 and to agitate thesame, and mechanism for effecting circulation upwardly through the pipe35 and through said chamber 34.

20. Apparatus of the class described including a source of liquid suply, a source of chemical sup ly, a bucket, a l1quid-receiving tanklocatedbeneath the bucket and adapted to receive liquid from the sourceof liquid supply, means for conveying liquid from the liquid-receivingtank to the bucket, and mechanism, governed by the bucket, forcontrolling the flow of chemical from said source of chemical supply tosaid receiving tank.

21. Apparatus of the class described including a liquidreceiving tank, asource of chemical supply for supplying chemical to the receiving tank,a bucket adapted to receive liquid from said receiving tank, mechanismgoverned by said bucket for controlling the flow of chemical from saidsource of chemical supply to said receiving tank, and means forpreventing said mechanism from operating while the liquid in saidreceiving tank is between alternative levels.

22. Apparatus of the class described including a liquid-receiving tank,a source of liquid supply therefor, a source of chemical supply for saidtank, mechanism for governing the flow of chemical and liquid to saidtank and operated by the liquid within the tank when said liquid hasreached a predetel-mined upper level to cut off the flow of chemical andliquid to the tank, and operable when the liquid in the tank has reacheda predetermined lower level, to renew the flow of chemical and liquid tothe tank, and restraining mechanism governed by the liquid in the tank,for preventing the aforesaid mechanism from operating during the timetheliquid in the tank is moving from one level to the other.

23. Apparatus of the class described including a liquid-receiving tank,a source of liquid supply therefor, a source of chemical supply for saidtank, mechanism for governing the flow of chemical and liquid to saidtank and operated by the liquid within the tank when said liquid hasreached a redetermined upper level, to cut off the tow of chemical andliquid to the tank, and operable when the liquid in the tank has reacheda predetermined lower level, to renew the flow of chemical and liquid tothe tank, and restraining mechanism governed by the liquid, forpreventing the aforesaid mechanism from operating during the time theliquid in the tank is moving from one level to the other.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 12th day ofSeptember A. 1)., 1907.

KENT W. BARTLETT.

Witnesses G. L. CRAGG, L. G. STROI-I.

